The world’s first 2-wheeled motorcycle race was held on an oval track at Sheen House, Richmond, Surrey, England
Monday 29th November 1897 The world’s first 2-wheeled motorcycle race was held on an oval track at Sheen House, Richmond, Surrey, England. The race distance was over one mile and was won by Charles Jarrot in a time of 2mins 8 seconds riding a Fournier.
Ransom Eli Olds of Lansing, Michigan, was issued a US patent for his ‘motor carriage’, a gasoline-powered vehicle that he had constructed the year before
Tuesday 23rd November 1897 Ransom Eli Olds of Lansing, Michigan, was issued a US patent for his ‘motor carriage’, a gasoline-powered vehicle that he had constructed the year before. In 1887, when he was only 18, Olds had built his first automobile, a steam-propelled, three-wheeled vehicle. Two months before receiving his patent, Olds had formed […]
The Pittsburgh Motor Vehicle Company was organised by Louis Semple Clark along with his brothers John S and James K, his father Charles, mutual friend William Morgan to build the Pittsburgh
Thursday 21st October 1897 The Pittsburgh Motor Vehicle Company was organised by Louis Semple Clark along with his brothers John S and James K, his father Charles, mutual friend William Morgan to build the Pittsburgh. In 1900 the firm would relocate to Ardmore, Pennsylvania, as the Autocar Company.
Henry Sturmey completed a 929 mile trip from John O’Groats to Land’s End in his Coventry Daimler, to become the first person to cross Great Britain from end-to-end by automobile
Tuesday 19th October 1897 Henry Sturmey completed a 929 mile trip from John O’Groats to Land’s End in his Coventry Daimler, to become the first person to cross Great Britain from end-to-end by automobile.
Emil Jellinek of Nice, France took delivery of a belt-driven Daimler, leading to his association with the marque and its name change to Mercedes
Thursday 14th October 1897 Emil Jellinek of Nice, France took delivery of a belt-driven Daimler, leading to his association with the marque and its name change to Mercedes.
Evelyn Ellis and his daughter Mary, James Critchley and Johann van Toll drove a Daimler motor car to the top of Worcestershire Beacon (1,395 ft) in the Malverns, England
Tuesday 12th October 1897 Evelyn Ellis and his daughter Mary, James Critchley and Johann van Toll drove a Daimler motor car to the top of Worcestershire Beacon (1,395 ft) in the Malverns, England.
The editor of Autocar, Henry Sturmey, began the first Land’s End to John o’ Groats motor journey, which took 11 days to complete
Saturday 9th October 1897 The editor of Autocar, Henry Sturmey, began the first Land’s End to John o’ Groats motor journey, which took 11 days to complete. The actual running time was 93.5 hours over 929 miles, to average nearly 10 mph. The car was a 4.5-bhp Coventry Daimler and the journalist described the trip […]
The first gas-powered bus service in Great Britain was started in Bradford by J E Tuke of the Yorkshire Motor Car Company Ltd
Saturday 25th September 1897 The first gas-powered bus service in Great Britain was started in Bradford by J E Tuke of the Yorkshire Motor Car Company Ltd.
Nine-year-old Stephen Kempton died, one of the first recorded traffic fatalities in Great Britain
Thursday 23rd September 1897 Nine-year-old Stephen Kempton died, one of the first recorded traffic fatalities in Great Britain. Kempton had been trying to steal a ride from a taxi on Stockmar Road, near Hackney, London by hanging on to a spring, but lost his grip and was trapped underneath the wheel of the vehicle.
Giuseppe Cobianchi drove a Benz to victory in an Italian road race from Arona to Stresa and back
Sunday 12th September 1897 Giuseppe Cobianchi drove a Benz to victory in an Italian road race from Arona to Stresa and back. He covered the 22 miles/35 km in 1 hour and 34 minutes at an average speed of 13.5 mph/22 kph
An Everyday Journey Through Motoring History, Facts & Trivia
This Day In Automotive History
